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Fragrant Rice: My Continuing Love Affair with Bali [Includes 115 Recipes]
This memoir, peppered with authentic Balinese recipes, is a love letter to the food and culture of Bali
When Janet De Neefe stepped off the plane in Bali in 1974, she felt an immediate connection to this island paradise. Though curious about Bali's culture, its warm people and its mouthwatering cuisine, she didn't expect to fall in love with a Balinese man and make a new life there. Now, years later, Janet and her husband have four children and run two of the most successful restaurants in Bali.
In this delightful memoir, Janet shares entertaining stories of being 'gently shaped like warm rice for offerings' as she adapts to another culture and way of life. She offers insights into the ancient myths and rituals still alive in Bali today and passes on delicious recipes handed down through generations of her husband's family.
Fragrant Rice shows how the love, hope and warmth that makes this island such a special place is still very much alive today.
Family recipes included
When Janet De Neefe stepped off the plane in Bali in 1974, she felt an immediate connection to this island paradise. Though curious about Bali's culture, its warm people and its mouthwatering cuisine, she didn't expect to fall in love with a Balinese man and make a new life there. Now, years later, Janet and her husband have four children and run two of the most successful restaurants in Bali.
In this delightful memoir, Janet shares entertaining stories of being 'gently shaped like warm rice for offerings' as she adapts to another culture and way of life. She offers insights into the ancient myths and rituals still alive in Bali today and passes on delicious recipes handed down through generations of her husband's family.
Fragrant Rice shows how the love, hope and warmth that makes this island such a special place is still very much alive today.
Family recipes included
336 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2004
15 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 29, 2007
The book is written by Janet De Neefe, an Australian married to a Balinese. She is also the owner of Casa Luna (restaurant, cooking class, guest house, furniture and handicraft shop). It is part autobiography, part fact book on Balinese culture, and part cookbook. Written in an easy, informal manners, it contains funny lines occasionally. Stories weaved among her young, hippie days, her experience settling down in Bali, and food. It's good because readers can feel and imagine life experiences through her eyes. For example, she uses a section on her father-in-law's death to briefly discuss the Balinese cremation rituals. She helpfully, for her target audience of Australian readers I guess, provides glossary of various names, places, terminologies, places, spices, Indonesian words, etc.
HOWEVER....
those are the only good things I have to say about the book. I feel that it is not written in an honest way: she talks a lot about cosmological events, the body being sacred, the mountains being sacred, etc in vague, superficial way when it could be more interesting to discuss something relevant and real such as the different perspectives of western and eastern civilizations for example. She sort of 'forces' readers to accept the ideas that she believes men are in higher 'spiritual position' than women (whatever that means in this time and age) by repeating examples and instances when she was an embarrassment to her husband. Everything in Bali is beautiful, wonderful, can't-be-better in excessive, wishful-thinking kind of description. Nothing can be THAT perfect.
Her writing is quite amateurish: she uses a lot of empty, long-winded, meaningless phrases. The title, for example: Fragrant Rice (unrelated to the content except for the fact that Balinese eats a lot of rice and rice is the foundation of Balinese meals. So?). My continuing love affair with Bali (??). A tale of passion, marriage, and food (???)
And what is it with the repetitive use of words such as favourite (every recipes IS a favourite), blessed (everyone and everything ARE blessed), very, most, gentle, etc? It does get boring and a little tad nauseating after a while.
The recipes are clearly meant for foreigners who are gullible enough to be told that Gado Gado or Bubur Ayam with Choi Sum ARE Balinese food. Thus, the authenticity of the recipes is questionable. From a friend who is a Balinese food expert, I know that Balinese plecing does not use tomatoes and yet she does.
Overall, the book feels half-baked. Understandably, the target audience is Australian who has superficial knowledge about Indonesia and Bali. Nevertheless, It's an half-attempt to write about her life (OK, granted that she's no Madeline Albright), an half-attempt to write about food, and it's certainly no guide to Balinese culture. I was quite disappointed with this book. I expected her, being married to very traditional Balinese family, to give readers more than deep-skin observations and insights. I mean, if her sincere wish of publishing the book is to promote Bali, she should have at least done so in order to give the right impression and message to the readers.
One last thing that bugs me tremendously, although this is probably an unfair assessment, is that having said 'my continuing love affair with Bali' in the cover, she would have loved Bali as much as she wanted us to believe but at least two things are contradictory to that forced perception:
a. she had to give birth to ALL but her youngest child in Australia. OK, she did have her second child in Bali but that was due to an emergency. The baby should have been born in Melbourne.
b. she's keeping her maiden name. OK it's not a practice to change a lady's name to her husband's in Indonesia but I've seen a few foreign ladies do. Our Indonesian ladies normally are quite eager to take up their foreign husbands' surname once married, just as the western custom dictates.
Pepesan kosong? You decide :D
HOWEVER....
those are the only good things I have to say about the book. I feel that it is not written in an honest way: she talks a lot about cosmological events, the body being sacred, the mountains being sacred, etc in vague, superficial way when it could be more interesting to discuss something relevant and real such as the different perspectives of western and eastern civilizations for example. She sort of 'forces' readers to accept the ideas that she believes men are in higher 'spiritual position' than women (whatever that means in this time and age) by repeating examples and instances when she was an embarrassment to her husband. Everything in Bali is beautiful, wonderful, can't-be-better in excessive, wishful-thinking kind of description. Nothing can be THAT perfect.
Her writing is quite amateurish: she uses a lot of empty, long-winded, meaningless phrases. The title, for example: Fragrant Rice (unrelated to the content except for the fact that Balinese eats a lot of rice and rice is the foundation of Balinese meals. So?). My continuing love affair with Bali (??). A tale of passion, marriage, and food (???)
And what is it with the repetitive use of words such as favourite (every recipes IS a favourite), blessed (everyone and everything ARE blessed), very, most, gentle, etc? It does get boring and a little tad nauseating after a while.
The recipes are clearly meant for foreigners who are gullible enough to be told that Gado Gado or Bubur Ayam with Choi Sum ARE Balinese food. Thus, the authenticity of the recipes is questionable. From a friend who is a Balinese food expert, I know that Balinese plecing does not use tomatoes and yet she does.
Overall, the book feels half-baked. Understandably, the target audience is Australian who has superficial knowledge about Indonesia and Bali. Nevertheless, It's an half-attempt to write about her life (OK, granted that she's no Madeline Albright), an half-attempt to write about food, and it's certainly no guide to Balinese culture. I was quite disappointed with this book. I expected her, being married to very traditional Balinese family, to give readers more than deep-skin observations and insights. I mean, if her sincere wish of publishing the book is to promote Bali, she should have at least done so in order to give the right impression and message to the readers.
One last thing that bugs me tremendously, although this is probably an unfair assessment, is that having said 'my continuing love affair with Bali' in the cover, she would have loved Bali as much as she wanted us to believe but at least two things are contradictory to that forced perception:
a. she had to give birth to ALL but her youngest child in Australia. OK, she did have her second child in Bali but that was due to an emergency. The baby should have been born in Melbourne.
b. she's keeping her maiden name. OK it's not a practice to change a lady's name to her husband's in Indonesia but I've seen a few foreign ladies do. Our Indonesian ladies normally are quite eager to take up their foreign husbands' surname once married, just as the western custom dictates.
Pepesan kosong? You decide :D
June 7, 2022
I read this book at the same time I read Tara Westover's Educated--and was wondering if the two books could be more different? Where Educated was larger than life, cinematic, completely overwrought, and hyper-exaggerated, Fragrant Rice was a quiet and incredibly compelling food memoir. I think I should read more food memoirs since I always love them and find I learn a lot from them--not just about food.
I spent a lot of time in Bali when I was in my twenties. I think De Neefe arrived to be married there maybe a year or two before my own first trip to the island. I have spent time in one of her restaurants, where I learned to play chess. The Aussie author had traveled to Bali in her teenage years as part of a family trip and she fell in love with the island. Like a lot of people. She went back as soon as she was able to get there and then fell in love with a man and his culture.
She gets married and spends the next decades trying to understand the culture and really embed herself in the Ubud community. It resonated a lot with my own life trajectory, but where my focus was Japanese language and tea ceremony, hers was food and cooking.
Most chapters end with recipes and there are many more in the end. I realized something about my impatient personality: I have never made a spice paste of the kind required in Indonesian and Indian cooking. I adore Indonesian food. Especially Javanese food. But I lack the patient to make a sambal. I have never done it, though I LOVE them.... I might try (but I probably won't!!) I stopped visiting Ubud and Bali after half a dozen long stays in my twenties. It became unrecognizable to me. I cannot imagine ever going back, though I would love to visit Java again someday. I would also love to see Sulawesi again. But then I would be tempted to visit Bali. I wonder if Sanur has changed like Ubud?
I spent a lot of time in Bali when I was in my twenties. I think De Neefe arrived to be married there maybe a year or two before my own first trip to the island. I have spent time in one of her restaurants, where I learned to play chess. The Aussie author had traveled to Bali in her teenage years as part of a family trip and she fell in love with the island. Like a lot of people. She went back as soon as she was able to get there and then fell in love with a man and his culture.
She gets married and spends the next decades trying to understand the culture and really embed herself in the Ubud community. It resonated a lot with my own life trajectory, but where my focus was Japanese language and tea ceremony, hers was food and cooking.
Most chapters end with recipes and there are many more in the end. I realized something about my impatient personality: I have never made a spice paste of the kind required in Indonesian and Indian cooking. I adore Indonesian food. Especially Javanese food. But I lack the patient to make a sambal. I have never done it, though I LOVE them.... I might try (but I probably won't!!) I stopped visiting Ubud and Bali after half a dozen long stays in my twenties. It became unrecognizable to me. I cannot imagine ever going back, though I would love to visit Java again someday. I would also love to see Sulawesi again. But then I would be tempted to visit Bali. I wonder if Sanur has changed like Ubud?
June 17, 2020
A novel which is seen through the eyes of the author capturing her love of Bali.
The book comprises of part memoir, cultural, food and receipes.
Her journey begins with a family trip to Bali, later she returns as a YA, meets and later marries her Balinese husband.
At these major junctions in life, we start to get an insight to the different cultural beliefs and ceramonys
Bali , like many Asians country's, is built on ancient history and the book provides a window into the country's customs, religions and faith.
It depicts the alternative use of medicine and food as a saviour to health.
Offers a brief explanation on some of Bali's traditions.
The Baliense food and receipes are delightful and mouth watering.
The book leaves you wanting to try, taste or just wonder the streets of Ubud to tanilse yourself in all of Bali's culinary delights.
3.5* The book is a little disjointed and repetitive at times.
The author offers little emotional input to the challenges faced between the adopting her Balinese bale and Hindu-Buddist philosophies.
The book comprises of part memoir, cultural, food and receipes.
Her journey begins with a family trip to Bali, later she returns as a YA, meets and later marries her Balinese husband.
At these major junctions in life, we start to get an insight to the different cultural beliefs and ceramonys
Bali , like many Asians country's, is built on ancient history and the book provides a window into the country's customs, religions and faith.
It depicts the alternative use of medicine and food as a saviour to health.
Offers a brief explanation on some of Bali's traditions.
The Baliense food and receipes are delightful and mouth watering.
The book leaves you wanting to try, taste or just wonder the streets of Ubud to tanilse yourself in all of Bali's culinary delights.
3.5* The book is a little disjointed and repetitive at times.
The author offers little emotional input to the challenges faced between the adopting her Balinese bale and Hindu-Buddist philosophies.
August 22, 2015
I'm so happy I read this book before traveling to Bali! Janet shares so many insights about Balinese culture that only someone truly immersed in their way of life could know.
February 19, 2020
2019 bk 64. Gentle and soothing and soft breezes are the words that run behind the read of this memoir/cookbook/expat experience. Janet was in her teens the first time she went to Bali. Subsequent visits found her meeting and marrying the man of her dreams, moving to the island, and taking on his traditions with her own. This is a quiet read that draws you into her home, where you take on the culture (I found my self upending a tumeric capsule into some water and making a paste to try on a cut), and can smell the foods served for home and festival. For those times when you need to see how someone else lives and handles the stresses of daily life, this is the book.
December 26, 2013
I loved this book. Although not a cook myself, in fact, I hate cooking, I loved Janet's very matter-of-fact approach to life, very absorbing. Being Australian and married to a Balinese man (and me being a New Zealander and married to a Javanese man) she mentioned so many things about the Indonesian culture I can positively and negatively relate to. Dotted throughout the book are her recipes, and many of those are traditional Balinese recipes. However, as she mentioned in the book, one cannot possibly obtain a proper Balinese recipe from anyone there unless they simply just sit, watch, take notes and be patient, because the Balinese don't write down their recipes. They are handed down from one generation to the next. Men also do much of the cooking, particularly at festival times...and there are plenty of them, and despite the lack of recipes, somehow the dishes seem to all come out the same every time.
I was particularly taken with the mistakes she made in entering a foreign culture and trying to embrace it to please her husband and his family....believe me, that's not always an easy thing to do, especially when you aren't aided in what is correct, but only told after you have made a mistake and embarrassed yourself....and not even realized.
I will re-read this book because it was a really heartwarming story and told so much of her family life and what it took for her to adapt.
Top read.
I was particularly taken with the mistakes she made in entering a foreign culture and trying to embrace it to please her husband and his family....believe me, that's not always an easy thing to do, especially when you aren't aided in what is correct, but only told after you have made a mistake and embarrassed yourself....and not even realized.
I will re-read this book because it was a really heartwarming story and told so much of her family life and what it took for her to adapt.
Top read.
July 15, 2011
I quite liked this book; the three stars are for enjoy-ability rather than good writing because the writing is patchy. At times the attempt to combine personal narrative and information about the author’s perspective on Bali with a succession of recipes gets the better of the author. This is a really hard combination so I am not surprised that it is too much for an inexperienced author.
I have been to Bali, and eaten at the restaurant the author and her husband run, so it is interesting to read in that respect. I hope to be going back to Bali before too long and it gave me some interesting ideas and inspiration for my next trip. I certainly enjoyed reading more about Bali from the perspective of someone who had ‘married into it’ and clearly embraced all aspects of the complex and spiritual society of Bali.
BUT. I can usually find a ‘but’ in any book. In this one it is so glaring that I had to put the book down between reading events. Bali and Indonesia in general are patriarchal, that is fine BUT the level of female subservience, male dominance that comes out in this book is frequently too much for me as a twenty first century western female.
I have been to Bali, and eaten at the restaurant the author and her husband run, so it is interesting to read in that respect. I hope to be going back to Bali before too long and it gave me some interesting ideas and inspiration for my next trip. I certainly enjoyed reading more about Bali from the perspective of someone who had ‘married into it’ and clearly embraced all aspects of the complex and spiritual society of Bali.
BUT. I can usually find a ‘but’ in any book. In this one it is so glaring that I had to put the book down between reading events. Bali and Indonesia in general are patriarchal, that is fine BUT the level of female subservience, male dominance that comes out in this book is frequently too much for me as a twenty first century western female.
August 28, 2021
A very wonderful read. I really enjoyed the addition of relevant and interesting recipes at the end of each chapter. Makes me feel inspired to cook different things because of the simplicity of recipes included. But I digress.
I also really enjoyed the stories and narrative of the author. I enjoyed reading her personal lived experience to understand the deep ties to rituals and religion in Balinese culture. I also loved learning more about the relationship of food to religion and spirituality that underpins Indonesian culture.
However, I think the editing could have been somewhat improved as some sentences and statements didn't read too well or weren't nessesary to be included. I also felt from halfway onwards the structure became less clear. And sometimes the voice of the narrator felt very self-focussed when they are very clearly describing a Community that depends on collaboration and community. The author could have perhaps included her cooks/staff/wider community more centred in the book providing more of a direct voice of the Balinese in her book.
Much to ponder on, a very enjoyable read. Very glad I finally picked up and read it!
I also really enjoyed the stories and narrative of the author. I enjoyed reading her personal lived experience to understand the deep ties to rituals and religion in Balinese culture. I also loved learning more about the relationship of food to religion and spirituality that underpins Indonesian culture.
However, I think the editing could have been somewhat improved as some sentences and statements didn't read too well or weren't nessesary to be included. I also felt from halfway onwards the structure became less clear. And sometimes the voice of the narrator felt very self-focussed when they are very clearly describing a Community that depends on collaboration and community. The author could have perhaps included her cooks/staff/wider community more centred in the book providing more of a direct voice of the Balinese in her book.
Much to ponder on, a very enjoyable read. Very glad I finally picked up and read it!
July 15, 2023
You walk alongside Janet De Neefe on her memoir about the love, beauty and challenge of adjusting to living in the idyllic island of Bali. Her marriage to a Balinese man, love, his relationship with his family and learning all about the new culture she adopts so different from her own Australian background. She beautifully explains the rituals, myths and belief systems both present day and past keeping food as the central thread amongst cultures. I have learned so much not just about the food itself and what it represents and means to the people but also the etiquette of food presentation and how you eat it in company. You wont find much of this in the usual guides to an island, these are deeply personal and local to the community she now lives in and has given me lots to consider about when visiting new places and trying new foods. I hope to try the homely recipes and maybe even visit Bali.
August 28, 2021
I certainly want to move to Bali and eat all the food after reading this book, but the book itself fell short in a couple of ways. I did not understand the layout at all and felt recipes were placed too early when later they would be explained again. Similarly, why not explain the foundational ingredients of Balinese cooking in the first half to provide greater understanding and context? I’d expected to hear more about the restaurant and guesthouse, but both were only lightly touched on. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the descriptions of life in Bali and thorough explanations of cultural customs and norms. It has certainly given me a better understanding of this beautiful island.
September 22, 2024
I am travelling to Bali on the 26th September for the first time and my neighbour gave me this book a little while ago. I thought I would read it closer to the trip. Got a big surprise when I read the blurb about the author and discovered she owns the Honeymoon Guesthouse where we are staying for our first 5 nights. Spooky! Great insights into Bali, especially the food and the culture. It is an old book now but I am assuming a lot of it is still relevant.
January 20, 2023
Finished reading this while staying in Ubud less than 800m from casa Luna - the authors cooking school. Can’t wait to try the recipes and loved her story and perspective as an outsider on this fascinating society
December 27, 2019
More then perfect book. The way of telling all stories about Balinese traditions is like a charming dance.
June 19, 2022
very interesting - would love to visit Bali.
May 23, 2013
Janet deNeefe was born in Melbourne, and has lived in Ubud, Bali for 27 years. She first came to the island in 1974 with her family and fell in love with it. Later when she returned, she fell in love with her husband Ketut and she moved to Ubud in 1984. “Fragrant Rice” is part memoir, part cookbook, which make sense because Janet loves cooking and was in awe of Balinese cooking in particular. She learned from her relatives and other Balinese and founded two restaurants and a cooking school. She is the mother of four children. This was the perfect read while I was in Bali. While I read what the ingredients were in the recipes, I got to taste many of the dishes she highlighted. The love and labor that goes into Balinese cooking is above reproach. I also had many questions answered about Balinese culture and customs. Here’s a few I would like to highlight.
Love of Children
“In Bali, it is said that your children are your karma, the fruits of your deeds. Shower your children with love and respect and you will surely be blessed in this life and the next.”
Reincarnation
It is said that the reincarnated person is always Balinese because the spirits can’t cross the water…”
Tooth-filing Ceremony
“It is believed that the filing of these teeth [top six] is a way of balancing these evils within us that can create havoc and lead us to despair—and inner harmony guarantees inner pace.”
Silence
“I also learnt the Balinese art of sitting with family and friends, hardly speaking a word, for what seemed like an eternity. Silence is just another way of communicating feelings, a space for words and thoughts to gather. Western people are not comfortable with this and fumble uneasily at silence.”
Daily Offerings
“Offerings are a way of life in Bali. Every day, small coconut-leaf trays containing petals, leaves and rice are placed at busy crossroads, outside shop fronts, in shrines and homes. ...The making of offerings is a way of quietly practicing the worship of God to cleanse your mind and control worldly passions. It is an act of love and respect that enriches a pure heart and helps us received the wisdom and guidance of God.”
This is MUST READ book for anyone interested in Balinese culture, or anyone planning on visiting Bali. It helps one make sense of everything you are seeing and feeling while there. The recipes are to die-for; some simpler than others.
Love of Children
“In Bali, it is said that your children are your karma, the fruits of your deeds. Shower your children with love and respect and you will surely be blessed in this life and the next.”
Reincarnation
It is said that the reincarnated person is always Balinese because the spirits can’t cross the water…”
Tooth-filing Ceremony
“It is believed that the filing of these teeth [top six] is a way of balancing these evils within us that can create havoc and lead us to despair—and inner harmony guarantees inner pace.”
Silence
“I also learnt the Balinese art of sitting with family and friends, hardly speaking a word, for what seemed like an eternity. Silence is just another way of communicating feelings, a space for words and thoughts to gather. Western people are not comfortable with this and fumble uneasily at silence.”
Daily Offerings
“Offerings are a way of life in Bali. Every day, small coconut-leaf trays containing petals, leaves and rice are placed at busy crossroads, outside shop fronts, in shrines and homes. ...The making of offerings is a way of quietly practicing the worship of God to cleanse your mind and control worldly passions. It is an act of love and respect that enriches a pure heart and helps us received the wisdom and guidance of God.”
This is MUST READ book for anyone interested in Balinese culture, or anyone planning on visiting Bali. It helps one make sense of everything you are seeing and feeling while there. The recipes are to die-for; some simpler than others.
October 20, 2011
Okay, several things can be said about this book that are not that favorable: It's not a discussion of Balinese culture, it does not have any critical reflection of the land, it's not that well written (technically speaking) etc., etc. So many reviewers of this book have a point. But, honestly, I don't care.
This book is a book of love! The author is in love with Bali and this is the spirit with which it must be read to really be appreciated. And she does say so already in the subtitle so no one should be surprised;-)
Having visited Bali myself, with my wife (whose copy of the book I've read), and having stayed at the Honeymoon Guesthouse in Ubud, owned by the author, I can recognize much of what she writes. I could almost smell everything again. That's pretty good and successful writing, in my opinion.
Admittedly, I'd like to read some more on, say, deeper elements of the religion and the worldview as such. Then I go find other books. And there are too many recipes for my liking. My reading likings, that is, for, boy, would I love to taste that heavenly food again!
I could almost taste it, reading this book. Yummy. Not bad, not bad.
This book is a book of love! The author is in love with Bali and this is the spirit with which it must be read to really be appreciated. And she does say so already in the subtitle so no one should be surprised;-)
Having visited Bali myself, with my wife (whose copy of the book I've read), and having stayed at the Honeymoon Guesthouse in Ubud, owned by the author, I can recognize much of what she writes. I could almost smell everything again. That's pretty good and successful writing, in my opinion.
Admittedly, I'd like to read some more on, say, deeper elements of the religion and the worldview as such. Then I go find other books. And there are too many recipes for my liking. My reading likings, that is, for, boy, would I love to taste that heavenly food again!
I could almost taste it, reading this book. Yummy. Not bad, not bad.
February 7, 2014
On my first trip to Bali in 2009, I picked up this book and read it on the porch of the villa I stayed at, being surrounded by the beautiful Bali nature, the warm weather and the sound of the gamelan. It couldn't have been a more perfect setting. Kudo's to miss Janet De Neefe for sharing some captivating inside knowledge about the Balinese culture, traditions and food. If you are interested in knowing more about the culture, traditions and food from Bali, this is a wonderful read. It is a personal story based on real true life events. An Australian woman falls in love with a Balinese man and she emerges in the culture and tradition by undergoing herself rituals that make her more and more a Balinese woman. The story is one like a fairy tale with a happy ending: and they lived happily ever after in Ubud, Bali!
November 11, 2010
Yeah sure, read Eat, Pray, Love, but save it for the plane ride home. When you're traveling through Bali and especially when you're headed to Ubud, read Fragrant Rice.
This memoir told through the lens of food and cooking explains a lot of the rituals and cultural items that you'll see around you on your trip. The book is written by the chef and owner of the Honey Luna cafe, which is worth a stop when you're needing some Western fusion with your Balinese cuisine.
Plus, the recipes (even if you don't plan to cook them) let you know what's in the food you're eating. The prose is a little precious, but that's a small criticism.
This memoir told through the lens of food and cooking explains a lot of the rituals and cultural items that you'll see around you on your trip. The book is written by the chef and owner of the Honey Luna cafe, which is worth a stop when you're needing some Western fusion with your Balinese cuisine.
Plus, the recipes (even if you don't plan to cook them) let you know what's in the food you're eating. The prose is a little precious, but that's a small criticism.
April 6, 2015
This was a really interesting read from an Australian woman who has lived the past few decades in Bali (one of my favourite places in the whole world). I really enjoyed the discussion of culture and food in this book (and there were so many wonderful Balinese recipes). It was also interesting to read about how the author ended up in Bali, falling in love with a Balinese man and relocating her life there. I definitely recommend this if you are a fan of Balinese cuisine and/or the real Bali (Kuta singlet wearing Aussies who drink to excess and have no appreciation for culture need not apply).
December 5, 2007
This Australian author married a Balinese man and the book is her story of her adopted country and family experiences. The book is part autobiography, part travelogue, and part cookbook. She writes with great detail on festivals and rituals that a visitor is usually not privy to except on the surface. DeNeefe certainly gives the reader an appreciation for the details and care that go into Balinese culinary skills and its artistry. Especially if you're planning a trip to Bali, I would recommend this book.
February 15, 2012
I bought this book during one of my stays in Bali (2009, I think) and agree with most reviewers - it is not that special. Nor does it give a real meaningful insight in the day to day Bali family life.
At the same time I bought William Ingram's 'A Little Bit One O'Clock - Living with a Balinese Family'.
This book is outstanding. The author and his wife have known the Balinese family portrayed in the book since 1987, and have lived in Bali full time since 1993. Try and get hold of it, and then compare.
At the same time I bought William Ingram's 'A Little Bit One O'Clock - Living with a Balinese Family'.
This book is outstanding. The author and his wife have known the Balinese family portrayed in the book since 1987, and have lived in Bali full time since 1993. Try and get hold of it, and then compare.
January 15, 2008
This was not what I expected at all. DeNeefe began well, but she didn't follow that path instead she went off into her personal life.
She married a native of Bali and the book really could be quite good, but instead there are page after page of recipes (which I suppose some readers will love) which didn't interest me at all. I would rather have heard more about Bali and the town she lived in instead. Oh well, it could also have used a good editor.
She married a native of Bali and the book really could be quite good, but instead there are page after page of recipes (which I suppose some readers will love) which didn't interest me at all. I would rather have heard more about Bali and the town she lived in instead. Oh well, it could also have used a good editor.
February 22, 2008
First and foremost, if you like to eat and/or cook food from Southeast Asia and Bali specifically you should consider this book. I am mostly looking forward to learning how to whip up some good eats. Most chapters include step by step directions for cooking various dishes - including such things as how to choose a knife and so forth. As for the reading portions, it was rather interesting to learn more about the religious rituals of Bali.
May 8, 2016
An enjoyable memoir written by an Australian woman who married a Balinese man. Together, they have four children, several restaurants, a guest house, and a cooking school in Bali.
This isn't really a "literary" memoir or even a very critical one, but it was one person's story and quite interesting if you accept it as just that. I loved reading about the food and the ceremonies.
I reserve the right to update my opinion of the book after visiting Bali this summer, though!
This isn't really a "literary" memoir or even a very critical one, but it was one person's story and quite interesting if you accept it as just that. I loved reading about the food and the ceremonies.
I reserve the right to update my opinion of the book after visiting Bali this summer, though!
January 29, 2008
I listened to her on a radio interview with Kim Hill and she sounded really a lovely lady. I love her recipes which are entirely focused on Balinese cooking. Drop by to her website http://casalunabali.com/
We love dining at her cafe!
We love dining at her cafe!
May 1, 2008
Yummy-sounding Balinese recipes and an intimate look at what it's like to live as a Westerner in Bali. I read this book before my recent trip to Bali and it provided insights into the cultural practices that I hadn't heard before. I would love to join Janet DeNeefe and move to Ubud!
October 16, 2011
I should have given this book one star - I didn't finish it. But herein lies the problem - I liked the memoir at the beginning but then halfway through it just became a recipe book with extended scene setting.
August 25, 2008
So interesting. Before you go to Bali you should read her story and then make sure you take a cooking class or at least eat at her restaurant in Ubud.
December 18, 2008
This book teaches you about the heart and soul of Bali. Very interesting and wonderful recipes.
January 3, 2011
Couldn't finish it. Not interested enough.
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